Conservation Status
Since the 1940s, populations of Great Crested Newts have declined in most of Europe due to loss of habitat. In England, Wales and Scotland, it is a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and under equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland. It is also a European Protected Species and as such it has additional protection in the UK under Regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 (the Habitats Regulations), as amended by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007. It is an offence to:
- Intentionally kill, injure or take a Great Crested Newt
- Possess or control any live or dead specimen or anything derived from a Great Crested Newt
- Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used for shelter or protection by a Great Crested Newt (in practice this means both its breeding sites, and its terrestrial habitat)
- Intentionally or recklessly disturb a Great Crested Newt while it is occupying a structure or place which it uses for that purpose.
Other EU countries have similar legislation, implementing the Habitats Directive.
In the United Kingdom, habitat of the Great Crested Newt has diminished due to land development pressure from population growth and agricultural expansion; for example, it is considered eliminated from its prior range at the Portlethen Moss Nature Reserve in Scotland.
Where development activities may interfere with Great Crested Newt populations, exclusion systems such as newt fencing may be put in place to prevent the newts from entering a development site. Newt fencing may also be used to create a receptor site or 'newt-safe' area where Great Crested Newts can be translocated to, from an area where they are under threat.
Within the UK guidance on development in relation to Great Crested Newts can be found within Natural England's Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines which should be followed by developers.
Read more about this topic: Great Crested Newt
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